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Understanding the Reasons Behind Hair Fall

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" and she immediately lets down her long, beautiful, strong hair because she is not facing hair fall issues. Hair is not just hair for women but also an ornament and something to be proud of, but their shedding or thinning is heartbreaking. It is usual for our hair to break and regrow; it goes through its natural cycle, but if it does not grow back or breaking more than normal, you have a problem to deal with. So, now the question arises is that how much of hair fall is normal? According to the experts shedding 50 to 100 strands of hair in a day is normal, but if you see hair on your pillow or come off just by a little tug, you might be facing hair fall issue.

Know When You Should Worry about Your Hair Fall

How does one determine if they are shedding more than normal hair? Well, there are a number of ways through which you can find the answer to this question.

  • One of the leading causes of hair fall is genetics. If it runs in your family, you are prone to it, so be alert and look for the signs.

  • You can also visit a dermatologist and get yourself examined. They will take your family history to determine the cause and extent of your hair fall. They will look at your scalp and check for inflammation, redness, sores, etc. and figure out the cause of hair fall in no time.

  • Another way of finding out if you are shedding too much hair is to go through Pull and Tug test. Don't try this at home because only a dermatologist will know the right amount of pressure needed to do the test. They will hold a small section of your hair from different parts of your skull and gently tug on it to see if it comes off and with how much pressure.

  • You can also do the comb test before shampooing your hair. Comb your hair from the back of the top of our head to the front of the head for one minute. Do this over a light-colored bed sheet to see the amount of hair coming out. Typically you should not see more than 10 to 15 hair strands after the test, although it may vary due to age difference.

What Causes Hair Fall?

We lose hair for many reasons, and it is actually good to lose old hair and grow new ones. Still, if you notice a lot of hair clogging your drain or find it clinging to your floor, you need to figure out why excessive hair falls. Here are some reasons for hair fall, especially in women.

  • Deficiencies can cause hair to fall. If you are not taking in essential nutrients, you might face hair fall. You need minerals like iron, copper, zinc, and also proteins to grow healthy hair. Vitamin D deficiency can also lead to hair fall; therefore, go out in the sun for a while and soak up the sunshine vitamin once a day.

  • As we age, we tend to experience hormonal imbalance, leading to hair fall. Women produce estrogen, but they also produce testosterone and other androgens like DHEA. When women reach a certain age, the DHEA starts to convert into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which can cause hair fall.

  • Our genes play an important role in hair fall, and men are usually more prone to it, but women can face this issue as well. This type of hair fall cannot be prevented entirely, but you can use over the counter medication like minoxidil or finasteride, which slows down hair fall.

  • Many women experience hair fall right after childbirth. Hair goes through three stages, which are the growth phase, the transitional phase, when it stops growing but does not shed, and then the resting phase when the hair simply falls out. During pregnancy, women notice the first phase, and high levels of estrogen promote hair growth during this period but right after delivery, the hair starts to shed due to the levels of hormones coming back to its normal self. This phase is temporary and you can always use a good shampoo or a conditioner to give your hair some volume and make it look fuller.

  • Thyroid can also lead to hair fall. It is a small gland in the front of the neck which secretes thyroid hormones. This hormone is used by each cell in our body, but if this hormone imbalances, then it may cause hair fall. An increase in thyroid hormone or a decrease in it may trigger hair loss. It also causes weight gain, feeling cold, and lack of sleep, which causes anxiety and leads to hair fall as well. It can be detected through a blood test, and you can take medication to bring it back to normal.

  • If you notice bald patches on the scalp or body, you may be having Alopecia. If you have alopecia areata, then the hair grows back in a year or so, but if it is not growing back, then you might have alopecia totalis. You can treat it with steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs or immunosuppressive medications easily with regular use.

  • Women often rely on crash diets to lose weight, which can trigger hair fall as well. When you lose more than 15 pounds in a month or so, you may start using hair. Crash diets do not allow your body to get enough proteins and nutrients, causing your hair to get weak and fall out. Therefore, stay away from crash diets and eat fresh fruits, vegetables lean meat. Take in fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins to grow healthy hair.

Tips on Preventing Hair Fall in Women

Here are some easy tips which can help you prevent hair fall. Make them a part of your life to help your hair remain your crowning glory!

Don't Take Long Hot Showers

We understand taking a long hot bath in winters is heavenly, but it causes a lot of damage to your hair as well as your skin. Hot water strips away the essential oils from your scalp that are naturally produced to protect your hair and scalp both. Lack of these oils can cause a dry and inflamed scalp, making your scalp prone to infections that may cause hair to fall. It is also believed that hot water can shrink your hair follicles and cause hair thinning. If you want to take a hot shower avoid pouring it on your head and Saving yourself from hair fall.

Use Anti-DHT Shampoos

We have already covered the DHT factor and its contribution to hair fall. Many hair shampoos are actually anti-DHT. When buying shampoo, look for 1-2% ketoconazole, which prevents testosterone conversion to DHT. It works the same way as finasteride and prevents hair loss.

Choose Hairstyles That Don't Pull On The Hairline

A tight ponytail looks good and makes you look young, but it does pull on your hairline. Other hairstyles like cornrows and tight braids also tug on your hairline, which stresses your hair and might cause them to break from the root. There is no need to avoid a high up ponytail when you feel like sporting it but use a soft elastic band to tighten it. It won't tangle your hair when you take it off and won't put too much stress on your hair.

Avoid Using High Heat Tools

You indeed need heat to style your hair, but you may be causing permanent damage to your hair if you use it every day. Heat causes hair strands to break and fall out. When using a hot iron or a curling iron, make sure not to use it on one part of the hair for a long time. Move it within 10 seconds to avoid breakage. Also, avoid using a hairdryer every day. Let it air dry to preserve it. Although vitamin D is essential for healthy hair but too much sun exposure can also break your hair, so use a heat protecting spray or wear a cap if you are out in the sun for a long time.

Eating Adequate Amounts of Protein

Giving proper nutrients to your body is important to stay fit and to have a healthy head full of hair. If you are not taking in enough proteins, you will have weak hair roots and strands which will break. Follow a balanced diet and take in enough proteins; eat pulses, fruits, and lean meat to keep your hair strong to avoid breakage.

Taking Multivitamin Supplements

A lot of researches have proved that vitamin deficiency can cause hair loss. You need to take vitamin supplements to keep your hair strong. Our body cannot produce many vitamins, and it is difficult to obtain them from food alone; therefore, it is important to take supplements to cover the deficiency. You should take vitamins and minerals like selenium, vitamin B, zinc, vitamin D, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E

You should also consult a doctor before starting taking these supplements as too much of these can cause health issues.

Massage Your Scalp

To keep the blood circulation going on, you need to massage your scalp regularly. It can increase your hair density and keep your hair follicles strong. It also lowers stress and anxiety, which are related to hair fall as well. So, take oil of your choice, heat it a little, and have a friend or a partner to give you that much-needed massage to relax after a hard day and keep your hair from falling as well.

Change Your Hair Products

If you are in love with your shampoo's smell but notice extra hair on the bathroom floor, you should consider changing it and finding another nice smelling shampoo for yourself. Most of the hair products contain many hard chemicals that can cause permanent damage to your hair. These chemicals destroy the natural oils from the scalp and make the hair follicles weak. Try using all-natural products to nourish your hair.

Take Prescription Medications

You can always consult an expert and start taking medication to prevent hair fall. Two major drugs that are very effective are finasteride and minoxidil. Finasteride blocks testosterone's conversion into DHT, and minoxidil increases the blood flow and makes your hair follicles healthier. Taking these medications regularly can help in strengthening your hair. It is important to consult a doctor before taking these medications though, because they do have side effects. Finasteride is found to cause erectile dysfunction, and minoxidil can cause skin irritation and other allergies.

Using Coconut Oil for Damaged Hair

Coconut oil is a great way to nourish your scalp and hair. It has been proved through many studies that coconut oil repairs the damaged hair caused by UV light and other grooming habits. You can apply a raw cold-pressed virgin coconut oil on your scalp almost daily before going to bed and keep your hair from falling out.

Home Remedies For Hair Fall: Try These For Healthy, Gorgeous Hair

You can easily follow the tips given to stop hair fall, or you can try the following home remedies to keep your hair healthy. These are easy remedies you can make at home and use it on Sundays and protect your hair.

Egg Mask

An egg mask is a great way of strengthening your hair. Eggs are rich in sulphur, phosphorous, selenium, iodine, zinc, and protein, which are very good for your hair.

How to prepare the mask

  • Take one egg and separate the egg white in a bowl.
  • Add one tsp of olive oil and honey each.
  • Whisk it well and make a paste.
  • Apply it from the root to the top of your hair.
  • Leave for 20 minutes and wash it with a mild shampoo.

Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

The deficiency of vitamin C can cause hair to fall. Vitamin C provides strength to your hair follicles and prevents breakage. Simply boil dried amla with coconut oil till the oil turns black. Let it cool and massage your hair well with it. Leave it for 20 to 30 minutes and wash with a mild shampoo. You can use this remedy twice a week.

Aloe Vera Hair Mask

Aloe Vera is a blessing when it comes to beauty treatments. It is an effective way to heal your damaged hair. Take some aloe vera gel straight from the plant itself. Apply it to your scalp and hair. Leave it for about an hour and wash it with cold water.

Methi (Fenugreek)

Methi is known to be very good for your hair. It has Trigonella foenumgraecum, which promotes hair growth and makes your hair shiner.

You need

  • ½ cup of fenugreek seeds
  • Water

Method

  • Take a cup of methi dana and soak it in half a cup of water at night.
  • Grind it into a paste in the morning.
  • Apply it to your hair and leave it on for an hour.
  • Wash it off with water.
  • You can use this remedy once a week for good results.
Writer
Sarita Tiwari
Sarita worked in the development sector for 20 years but found her passion in writing. She is a blogger, a content writer and a ghost writer for various industries. When not writing, you will find her spending time with her family, cooking and traveling. She is an introvert and feels that writing gives a voice to her thoughts.

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